Friday Keyboard
With denise
Welcome to the Keyboard page

Welcome to SoundGarage :)
Page contents:
Keyboard basics
Simple chords
How to read sheet music
Performance / class songs
Additional play alongs
Musical futures resources
Additional chord charts
Improvisation
Additional music theory resources
Don't have an instrument to practice at home? no worries!
Keyboard Basics to get you started!
Lesson 1: The Names Of the keys
Lesson 1: The Names Of the keys
lesson 2: how to play chords

Simple Chords
Below you'll find some short lessons on how to play simple chords (triads). Listen to the rhythm first, then play!






How to Read sheet music
Here you will find a blog by musicnotes about the basics of reading sheet music, step by step which we will go through in class!
Includes:
Basic symbols of notation
timing and beat
melody and scales
free resources to help you learn :)
For more music theory:
Wham! - Last Christmas
Transposed to D major
(Original Key C Major)
Imagine dragons - Bones

Following the sheet music, start from the chorus at bar 15 to bar 22 in the right hand.
Harry Styles - As it was


Pink - Cover me in sunshine
Verse:
F F Bb C
Pre-chorus:
Bb C
Chorus:
G F C
Super Mario Bros - Peaches

This song is transposed and will not match the original key of the song which you may hear on the radio or elsewhere, ask your teacher for a copy of the track in the correct key :)
Introducing how to play a glissando:
A glissando is a musical slide up or down the keyboard.
watch this video to learn the correct way to play it :)
Avicii - Wake me up
Camila Cabello - Havana

This song is transposed and will not match the original key of the song which you may hear on the radio or elsewhere, ask your teacher for a copy of the track in the correct key :)
Katy Perry - Roar


on the right, we have a piano tutorial and sheet music for the melody line. Notice how the left hand play similar but different notes that still fit the key. There are multiple different combinations which you can play along with.
Large interval gaps explained (CHALLENGE):
Rather than playing notes which are part of a chord we will be playing notes with larger interval gaps.
Starting with an F and A#. this is part of a suspended 4th.
The second part is D and the above C. this is a minor 7th interval. it generally sounds harmonically unstable and evokes a sense of tension and mystery.
the last part is Bb and G which is a major 6th interval.
Eiffel 65 - Blue

(melody line)
Imagine dragons - Believer


Imagine dragons - Enemy


Try challenge yourself by including a passing note within the key or playing the melody line in the pre-chorus!
an example of passing notes you can use after Bm is e, and after F# is b.
Justin timberlake - Cant stop the feeling

Chords

Sheet Music
Additional play alongs

THUNDER - IMAGINE DRAGONS

BEST DAY OF MY LIFE - AMERICAN AUTHORS
Musical futures resources
Additional chord charts
You'll find a bunch of song resources here! Simply place your fingers where the circles are to play each chord.
Try playing these chords along with the song on Youtube.
Making up a song!
Improvising with black keys only
(based around the chords C#, D#, F# and A#)
Start with an Intro. Keep it simple!
Then add a Verse. add a bit more of a repetitive melody. Verses tend to vary more throughout the song!
Then add a Chorus. This is going to be the main highlight and peak of your song so make it catchy. Try experiment with the range of keys from low to high to make it interesting!
Finally, end with an Outro. Slow things down. Maybe even repeate similar ideas as the Intro!
Improvising with White keys only
(based around the chords C, A, D and G)
Start with an Intro. Keep it simple!
Then add a Verse. add a bit more of a repetitive melody. Verses tend to vary more throughout the song!
Then add a Chorus. This is going to be the main highlight and peak of your song so make it catchy. Try experiment with the range of keys from low to high to make it interesting!
Finally, end with an Outro. Slow things down. Maybe even repeate similar ideas as the Intro!
Heart & Soul
Notice how the chords for Heart and Soul are the same as the chords used for improvising. This is a very popular chord progression.
Extention:
Try adding a Pre-chorus just before the chorus as a lead up. This is different to the verse!
Also try adding a Bridge to spice things up and make things more interesting! This is usually placed in between two chorus's towards the end of the song.
Additional theory resources
Here is a great resource for learning music theory!!!
it includes
circle of 5ths
key signatures
scales
transposition
intervals
free worksheets and quiz's to test your knowledge